University of Helsinki “chasing preindustrial aerosols at Izaña” in the first access of the ATMO-ACCESS project.

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IARC is hosting the first TNA (TransNational Access) Observation campaign, under the umbrella of the ATMO-ACCESS project (Sustainable Access to Atmospheric Research Facilities, more info https://izana.aemet.es/atmo-access-isaf/), supported by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 – Research and Innovation Framework Programme (grant agreement No 101008004).
During April, May and June 2022 the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) at University of Helsinki (https://www2.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/atmosphere-biosphere-cryosphere-interactions) will run the campaign “Chasing preindustrial aerosols at Izaña” for the understanding the gas precursors responsible for new partible formation (NPF) process in pristine conditions like in our station. For this purpose, the research team has installed in our Joseph M. Prospero Aerosols Laboratory a suite of instruments, including APi-TOF for ion clusters measurements, MION-APi-TOF for the H2SO4 and oxygenated organic molecules concentrations, Vocus-PTR-TOF for VOCs and oxidation products of DMS (dimethyl sulphide), and a combo NAIS-PSM for number concentration and size distribution of atmospheric ions and neutral particles with a mobility diameter of 0.8-42 nm and number concentration of particle with a mobility diameter of 1.25-2.5 nm.

Inside of Joseph M. Prospero Aerosols Laboratory, with part of the instrumentation. From right to left: Federico Bianchi – Group Leader, Diego Aliaga, Wei Huang, Jiali Shen and Myriam Agró from Helsinki University, and África Barreto – Head of IARC Aerosol Programme)

ISAF (Izaña Subtropical Access Facility), as an infrastructure that offers TNA-Observation and TNA-Calibration, gives support on practicalities (such help on customs management, accommodation, meteorological warnings to severe weather, etc.) and scientific-technical support, as auxiliary data from our own programmes (trace gases, aerosols, radiation, meteorology, etc.). The IARC aerosol group, led by the head of the programme, África Barreto, and with the support of the IARC staff, are helping on instrument installations and other requirements needed for such intensive field observations.   

From lelft to right: Diego Aliaga, Federico Bianchi – Group Leader, Natalia Prats – PI of ATMO-ACCESS project at IARC, Wei Huang, Jiali Shen, Myriam Agró, Ramón Ramos – Head of Scientific instrumentation and infraestructures at IARC and Conchy Bayo – GAW technician support to IARC Aerosol Programme. At the bottom, Joseph M. Prospero Aerosols Laboratory building and snowy Teide mountain.

We hope a fruitful campaign and that our “guests” enjoy this wonderful environment. 

“The support to this campaign by IARC-AEMET is part of a project that is supported by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 – Research and Innovation Framework Programme, through the ATMO-ACCESS Integrating Activity under grant agreement No 101008004.“